Robert Morris women lose USCAA title game

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By The Associated Press

The State Journal-Register

By The Associated Press

Posted Mar. 8, 2014 at 8:16 PM

By The Associated Press

Posted Mar. 8, 2014 at 8:16 PM

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — Robert Morris University got off to a good start Saturday against Concordia-Alabama in the Division I women’s title game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national basketball tournament.

The third-seeded Eagles led for the majority of the first half and were still in the hunt with time running out in the second half, but a late scoring run propelled Concordia-Alabama to a 69-60 win.

The Hornets, winners of the title in 2012, denied the Eagles their first USCAA championship. RMU also had runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006.

RMU senior forward Cassandra Baker’s 3-pointer tied the game at 51 with 8˝ minutes remaining. Concordia-Alabama immediately went on an 11-2 scoring run. The eighth-seeded Hornets built a 62-53 lead with 4˝ minutes left.

Foul trouble

“We closed it down and tied it at 51, and just couldn’t finish,” RMU coach Brad Harmon said. “We had some good looks and the ball just didn’t fall. Traci (Osby) got her fourth foul and the defense that got us back in, we had to get out of it. We changed defenses with her out and couldn’t keep them out of the middle.”

The Eagles (16-9) held a slim lead for most of the first half. The Hornets took the lead for the first time in the last minute and were up 32-27 at halftime.

“We moved better,” Harmon said. “They were very physical and we would get layups with people on us. We let them stay in the game. Brandi Bradley, our best 3-pointer shooter, got hurt (hyperextended shoulder) eight minutes into the game. When they went from man to man to zone, we lost our zone buster. We couldn’t do anything to get them out of it.”

Osby and Baker were named to the all-tournament team. Baker and senior forward Marquichea Burns scored 15 points in the title game. Osby had 12 points.